Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was born after the Civil War because there was a desire to honor those that gave their life for our country. The first national celebration was on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery. In keeping with this century long tradition, the Texas Chapter of Honor and Remember held a Memorial Day celebration at the Jasper Courthouse on Saturday, May 24, 2014. The Jasper Courthouse lawn was covered in 632 American flags. This Field of Honor held a flag for every fall soldier from Texas since the war on terror began. Roy James opened the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. He introduced Al Duquette, a Vietnam veteran, who read the poem, "Unless You've Been a Soldier" by Clive Sanders. Three local families proudly displayed their Honor and Remember flags that they received for their lost loved one. A new flag was presented to a former Jasper family for their fallen soldier, PFC Stephen F. Jumper. He lost his life in Vietnam in November of 1967. Carson George, a father of a fallen soldier, spoke to the small crowd and explained that "after burying my son, I realized he no longer just belonged to me, he now belonged to our nation." Mr. George is the director of Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Wall. This traveling memorial wall holds photographs of every Texas soldier killed in the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. The Honor and Remember ceremony was concluded with a presentation of a poem to Carson George written by Roy James called "Forever 22."

On December 29, 2005, George Anthony Lutz II (Tony) was killed while on active duty in Fallujah, Iraq. In his grief, Tony's father, George, realized that there are many families that are mourning their loved ones from all wars. All these families wanted two things: 1) that their soldiers' sacrifice never be forgotten, and 2) that their soldier didn't die in vain. Lutz soon realized that in the 200& years of the United States there has not been a public symbol that specifically acknowledged our country's fallen heroes. This is why the Honor and Remember flag was created.

Roy James, State Chapter Director of Texas, started the Texas chapter of Honor and Remember. Mr. James is a veteran of Vietnam and takes patriotism very seriously. He felt that honoring and remembering the soldiers that never made it home is vital for our country. James explained, "We must never forget the ultimate sacrifices made by American soldiers." Jasper is the headquarters for the one and only Honor and Remember chapter (established on Veteran's Day in 2011) in Texas.

On Memorial Day, May 27, 2013, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed H.B. 3077 designating the Honor and Remember Flag as the Official Symbol for our Texas Fallen Heroes. Any family of a fallen soldier can petition for an Honor and Remember flag by going to the website (www.honorandremember.org) or contacting Roy James at the new office on E. Houston Street, Jasper. The Honor and Remember chapter welcomes volunteers, corporate sponsors, and donations.